Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63100 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“I have some money saved,” I say, turning my head to look out the window. I’m unsure about what the future holds, but the more I think about it, the more something deep inside me tells me to settle here to give this a real chance.
“Larry should be inside.” He releases my hand, which I didn’t even realize was still in his grasp but now that it’s gone I miss it. Once he’s out of the truck, I follow his lead, taking off my seatbelt and opening my door. I go to hop down and my hand slips from the bar, and I cry out as I fall forward, but then breathe a sigh of relief when I don’t feel the hard ground, but Austin’s arms wrapping around me.
“Thanks,” I mumble against his shirt.
“Don’t remember you being this klutzy before.”
My head tilts back to look at him. He’s so close that I can see even the small brown speckle in his left eye that stands out against the blue.
“I wasn’t…at least I don’t think I was,” I murmur. His gaze drops to my mouth as I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and shift my weight, fighting myself from leaning up on my tiptoes.
“Well, are you coming in, or are you gonna stand out there all day?”
I peek around Austin and see an older gentleman wearing a flannel shirt and jeans, with his head poking out the door, looking at us with a smile on his face. Austin growls something under his breath then takes my hand and leads me to the open door.
“Larry, this is Lea. Lea—Larry,” Austin introduces us, releasing my hand and placing his at the small of my back.
Smiling, I reply, “Nice to meet you.”
“You too, doll, and I’m sorry about your mom.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly, and he nods then steps aside. Right then, I know—without even looking around—I want it. The space isn’t huge, but there’s a large floor-to-ceiling window that looks out over the sound. It’s not Manderville house, but it’s definitely gorgeous. I walk to the window, look out at the ocean, and smile, and then turn in a circle. The walls are all freshly painted, and there’s an open door to what I can see is a bathroom, then three large bookshelves that line one wall, along with two tall, metal filing cabinets.
“The shelves and cabinets stay with the space.”
“Are you selling outright, or have you thought about renting?”
“Selling, we’re moving to Florida. My old bones can’t take anymore Alaskan winters,” he replies.
“Have you had any offers?”
“Haven’t even put it on the market. I just finished painting a few days ago, and I’m putting in new floors this weekend,” he says, and I look down at the old, dingy carpet under my feet. “I got linoleum; figured its better stuff to handle all the water around here.”
“That’s good. What are the utilities like?”
“Around three hundred a month in the winter, close to nothing in the summer months.”
“Are you willing to negotiate on the price?”
“What are you talking?” He leans back, crossing his arms over his chest, so I mimic his stance.
“Fifty thousand off, and you pay closing costs,” I tell him, and he looks at Austin and shakes his head.
“How soon can you close?” he asks.
“I just need to talk to the bank.”
“You get the loan, and you’ve got a deal, doll.”
“Really?” I ask in shock. I never expected him to take me up on my offer. At the least, I expected him to counter.
“Really.”
“Holy shit!” I practically yell then cover my mouth. Larry chuckles, and when I look at Austin, he’s wearing a very proud smile—a smile I’m familiar with, one he used to give me often. “Thank you, Larry.” I stick my hand out toward him and he shakes his head, pulling me in for a hug.
“Tell your mom I say hi.”
“I will,” I tell him as I pull away.
“Be good.” He pats Austin’s back, earning some kind of grumble from him that makes Larry laugh again.
Once we leave, I’m on such a high that I don’t even realize where we’re going until we head around a bend in the road and pull up in front of the Manderville house.
I had gone to the house once with my dad when I was young. The owners at the time ordered fish for a party they were having, and my dad took me with him to deliver it. I remember thinking then that it was a mansion, and seeing it now, I wasn’t too far off. The house had to be five thousand square feet, the bottom half open and on stilts, so you could park a boat, or a car if you didn’t feel like using the garage.
“I still can’t believe you bought this place.”
“I remember you telling me about the view, so when it came on the market, I had to see it for myself.” He runs a hand over his head then looks out the window, lowering his voice. “I put in an offer that day, full price. I wasn’t even really looking for a house, but knew I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by.”